12:00 PMBikecentennial 50th Anniversary Ride
- Location
- Trek Bicycle Portland Slabtown, 1560 NW 21st Ave; Portland,Oregon, 97209
- Organizer
- Tom Howe
- Start Time
- 12:00 PM
- Time Details
- Meet at noon, ride at 12:30pm
- Loop
- Ride is a loop
- Length
- 3-8 miles
- More Info
- Adventure Cycling Association
For the Bicentennial in 1976 a 4,200 mile bike route was created going from the Oregon coast to Yorktown, Virginia. During that summer thousands of cyclists rode across the country, some going east others going west. Bike Inns were established across the country so riders were seldom more than 30 miles from accommodations in campgrounds, schools, fire stations, churches, and other venues. Guide books and detailed maps were published covering the entire route. The Bikecentennial route continues to be used to the present day and is now called the Trans America Bicycle Trail or TransAm. Adventure Cycling Association (ACA) evolved from the 40-person staff in 1976, and continues to publish maps for this route and many others. For the 50th anniversary they are promoting group rides covering the entire route, as well as shorter rides on sections of the trail. The TransAm goes across central Oregon, so for this Bike Summer ride we are riding a portion of another ACA route - The Lewis & Clark Bicycle Trail. This 3,131 mile route goes from Illinois to the Oregon coast, passing through Portland along the way. This year is also the 50th anniversary of Trek Bicycle Corporation, which had its humble beginning in a red barn in Waterloo, Wisconsin. So our ride starts at the Trek Slabtown store, where they are kindly offering us donuts before the ride. This store is not far from where the Lewis & Clark Trail resumes its trek to the Oregon Coast. The ride is a 5.5 mile loop returning to the Trek store. We stay in Northwest Portland passing by several bicycle-related venues along the way. Hope to see you there!